Home / Home Buying by state / Texas / Grayson County / Bells

Buying a home in Bells, Texas

The typical owner-occupied home in Bells is worth about $232,400, 18% below the Texas median of $283,800 and 30% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,911 a year in property taxes, about 1.68% of their home's value, higher than the Texas rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $92,075 a year, so the median home costs 2.5 times the median income (3.6 times for Texas). 70% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 71% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Bells at a glance

Bells Texas U.S.
Median home value $232,400 $283,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,911 $4,232 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.68% 1.49% 0.94%
Median household income $92,075 $78,476 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 70% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 71% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,879 $2,106 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.8% 21.7% 21.0%
Median rent $981 $1,403 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 34.4% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1986 1992 1980
Vacant homes 9.3% 9.4% 10.1%
Population 2,497 30,188,424 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Bells

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Bells home of $232,400 with 20% down costs about $1,673 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,060, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $71,695 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Bells household income of $92,075; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $298,000.

The median rent here is $981 a month, so owning the median home costs about $692 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$46,480
Loan amount$185,920
Principal and interest$1,251
Property taxes (1.68% a year)$325
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$97
PMI$0
Total per month$1,673

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$8,134
Loan amount$228,191
Principal and interest$1,535
Property taxes (1.68% a year)$325
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$97
FHA mortgage insurance$103
Total per month$2,060

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Bells

What is the median home value in Bells?

About $232,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Bells?

Homeowners pay a median $3,911 a year, which is about 1.68% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Bells?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,673 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $71,695 a year.

More about Bells

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data